Defence Research and Development Organisation STA

DRDO STA-B (Senior Technical Assistant-B) is a Group B technical post in the Defence Research and Development Organisation, filled through a national recruitment run by CEPTAM, the Centre for Personnel Talent Management. Selected candidates work in DRDO laboratories and establishments across India, supporting scientists in design, testing, fabrication, computing and analysis. The latest cycle is CEPTAM-11, which offers 561 STA-B posts out of 764 posts in total.

This guide brings together everything a DRDO STA-B aspirant needs in one place: the CEPTAM-11 timeline and current status, discipline-wise vacancies, eligibility, fee, the two-tier exam pattern, a syllabus summary, salary and a practical preparation plan. Where reports differ or a figure is not confirmed in an official DRDO document, the page says so clearly, so you know exactly what to verify on the DRDO website.

Table of Contents

• DRDO STA-B at a Glance

• CEPTAM-11 Notification and Current Status

• DRDO STA-B Vacancy 2025-26

• DRDO STA-B Eligibility

• Application Fee and How Candidates Applied

• DRDO STA-B Exam Pattern

• DRDO STA-B Syllabus Summary

• Selection Process

• Salary and Job Profile

• How to Prepare for DRDO STA-B

• Previous Cut-off Reference

DRDO STA-B at a Glance

Official website: https://www.drdo.gov.in/

CEPTAM-11 Notification and Current Status

DRDO published the CEPTAM-11 advertisement for STA-B and Technician-A on its vacancies page on 4 December 2025, and online applications opened on 11 December 2025. The last date was later extended to 11 January 2026. Tier I was held on 23 March 2026, and the Tier I result was reported on 25 May 2026.

DRDO's notice dated 26 May 2026 fixed Tier II for 15 June 2026. A later DRDO notice dated 13 August 2026 confirmed that Tier II was held on that date, that preliminary document scrutiny was in progress, and that the Tier II result would be published on the DRDO website after the scrutiny. As of 27 October 2026, we could not find a published Tier II or final result for STA-B.

Important Dates (CEPTAM-11)

Dates marked reported come from result and exam notices as covered at the time, and the final stages have no fixed date yet. Track the CEPTAM section of the DRDO website and your registered email and mobile number for updates.

CEPTAM-11 advertisement page: https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/en/offerings/vacancies/ceptam-11-advertisement-post-sta-b-and-technician

DRDO STA-B Vacancy 2025-26

CEPTAM-11 has 561 STA-B vacancies spread across 17 disciplines. Each discipline has its own post code, and you compete only with candidates of the same post code in Tier II. The split below is as reported from the advertisement. Confirm your post code's figure, including the category-wise break-up, in the official advertisement.

The category-wise totals reported for STA-B are UR 249, OBC 136, SC 83, EWS 50 and ST 43. Some pages show a different figure for Psychology, so treat the discipline split as indicative until you check the advertisement. The other 203 posts in CEPTAM-11 are for Technician-A, which has a separate exam page and a different selection route.

DRDO STA-B Eligibility

Educational Qualification

STA-B needs either a B.Sc in the relevant subject or a Diploma in the relevant engineering or technology branch from a recognised university or AICTE-recognised institute. The qualification must match the post code you apply for.

• Engineering disciplines: Diploma in the same branch, for example Diploma in Mechanical Engineering for the Mechanical post code.

• Science disciplines: B.Sc in the subject, such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Geology or Psychology.

• Computer Science: Diploma in Computer Engineering, Computer Science or IT. BCA, MCA and DOEACC qualifications are reported as not accepted.

• Library Science: A science degree along with a diploma or degree in Library Science, as specified in the advertisement.

Higher qualifications such as B.Tech, B.E., M.Sc or PhD are not accepted in place of the essential qualification. You must hold the essential qualification by the crucial date; a pending result does not count.

Age Limit

The age limit for STA-B is 18 to 28 years, counted on the crucial date stated in the advertisement. Upper age relaxation applies as per Government of India rules.

You must be a citizen of India or fall within the other categories allowed under Government of India rules. Full details are on our DRDO STA-B eligibility page.

Application Fee and How Candidates Applied

CEPTAM-11 used a two-part fee for STA-B: a non-refundable part and a refundable part that is returned only to candidates who appear in Tier I.

Applications were online only. Candidates registered on the CEPTAM-11 portal linked from the DRDO website, chose a post code, uploaded a photo and signature, paid the fee online and submitted the form. Common reasons for rejection in CEPTAM cycles include a qualification that does not match the post code, applying with only a higher degree, and unclear photos or signatures. The application window for CEPTAM-11 is closed.

DRDO STA-B Exam Pattern

STA-B selection has two computer based tests. Tier I is a common screening paper for all post codes, and Tier II tests your own discipline.

Tier I (Screening)

Tier II (Subject Test)

Each question carries one mark, and most reports of CEPTAM-11 state a deduction of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer, while a few say there is none. Reports also differ on whether Tier II Part II lasted 90 or 120 minutes. Treat these two points as tentative and follow your admit card instructions and the advertisement. Minimum qualifying marks are reported as 40 percent for UR, OBC and EWS and 35 percent for SC, ST and PwBD.

What this means for you:

• Tier I is a speed test with section locks: Each section reportedly had its own 30-minute window, so you cannot borrow time from English to finish Maths.

• Tier II decides selection: Your discipline knowledge carries the final result, so do not leave core subjects until after Tier I.

• Guess with care: With a likely 0.25 penalty, a blind guess adds almost nothing on average, while a guess after eliminating two options is usually worth it.

Older pages may still show CEPTAM-10 figures such as a 120-question Tier I, so follow the current pattern. See the DRDO STA-B exam pattern page for a section-by-section breakdown.

DRDO STA-B Syllabus Summary

DRDO names the Tier I sections and the Tier II discipline for each post code, but third-party pages publish most topic lists. Use the summary below as a working checklist.

The full topic lists for each Tier II discipline are on the DRDO STA-B syllabus page.

Selection Process

1. Tier I CBT: A screening test. Candidates who meet the qualifying marks are shortlisted for Tier II in a fixed ratio to vacancies, post code-wise and category-wise.

2. Preliminary document scrutiny: CEPTAM checks the eligibility documents of shortlisted candidates.

3. Tier II CBT: The personality test and the subject test. Provisional selection is made on merit in the subject test.

4. Document verification: Original certificates for age, qualification, category and other claims are checked.

5. Medical examination: Final appointment depends on medical fitness.

Salary and Job Profile

STA-B is placed at Level 6 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, with basic pay from Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400. Dearness allowance, house rent allowance or government accommodation, transport allowance and other central government benefits are paid on top of the basic pay. Take-home pay depends on the city of posting, so treat any in-hand figure you see online as an estimate.

STA-B staff assist scientists in laboratory work, testing, data handling, instrumentation, software support and maintenance of equipment, depending on the discipline. The DRDO technical cadre has a promotion path to higher Technical Assistant and Technical Officer grades through assessment, subject to the rules in force.

How to Prepare for DRDO STA-B

Plan for both tiers together. Tier I is broad and fast, while Tier II rewards depth in your own subject, and the gap between them is usually only a few months.

• Weeks 1 to 8: Build Tier I basics in Maths and Reasoning daily, and revise one core discipline subject each week.

• Weeks 6 to 12: Add General Science from Class 9 and 10 science textbooks and daily English practice. Start topic tests.

• From week 10: Take timed sectional tests of 30 minutes to match the section lock.

• Final phase: Take full-length Tier I mocks, then switch most of your time to discipline-wise Tier II tests.

Mock Tests for DRDO STA-B

DRDO does not keep a standing official mock test page for STA-B on its website. Ahead of Tier I, a practice version of the exam interface was reported, but we could not verify a live official link, so check the CEPTAM notices on the official website before the next cycle.

Previous Cut-off Reference

CEPTAM does not publish one consolidated STA-B cut-off for every cycle. For CEPTAM-11, candidates saw their own Tier I qualifying status in the result login. Figures reported for CEPTAM-10 Tier I appear to be percentile-type normalised scores, not raw marks out of 150.

These are reported figures, not an official DRDO list. Cut-offs change every cycle with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants, so treat them as a benchmark only. More detail is on the DRDO STA-B cut-off page.